Residents in Batam, Indonesia, protest the growing number of data centres after water shortages leave people struggling to cook and shower. Outlets report that taps ran dry amid a prolonged drought, with the local water utility operator attributing the situation to low rainfall worsened by a strong El Niño cycle. Some accounts tie the anger to the way data centres use water, including for cooling equipment.
The coverage places Batam’s protests in a wider regional context tied to the global artificial intelligence boom. Several stories describe data centres as warehouse-like facilities that power apps and AI services, and highlight that cooling needs can intensify demand for water when supply is already strained. One outlet also notes frustration spilling beyond Indonesia into nearby areas associated with potential data-centre development.
While the core facts are consistent—Batam residents report water disruptions during drought and direct blame at data centres—emphasis varies. Some reports lead with daily-life impacts, others foreground the regional cross-border context involving areas linked to facilities serving the Singapore market.
